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The light makes its way through the window finally, shining down on us. It's about 6:30, a bit early of a rise for me in all honesty. I can't seem to fall back to sleep however, no matter how long my eyes lay shut and I focus on my breathing. I'm not sure how long I've been up really, just that I have long enough to see the sun rise.
G laid in my arms with that soft light expression, like the one you see on a sleeping baby - vulnerable, yet worry free, for the hands that they lie in are one's trusting. It freaked me out at times.
Perhaps I'm just worried about ruining it, having the weight of this trust on me. Maybe it's because I've been in that position before, only for it to be used against me...? I'm not sure, but I do know that I don't want to break this trust.
G would stir a bit. A hum. "..J..?"
"Yeah?"
"Why a'you up?" They'd bury their head in my chest, pushing some of the cover over their head to block out the sunlight.
"Not sure. Couldn't go back to sleep."
"Mm.." They'd tilt their head upwards, reaching their hand up to my cheek, giving a gentle stroke. I'd stiffen for a second, not quite sure why, but I would try to hide it. "Just rest, mk? It's our weekend off after all." Their voice is nothing but a soft soft vibration, barely a hum. "What time is-" Yawn. "-it?"
I'd turn my head over to the clock on the nightstand. "Uhm.. 6:48."
"Hm.." They'd drop their arm down, placing it between our chests. "I'm gon' sleep for a lil.. bi..."
For a second, I would think they were trying to recall something to mind, but my hypothesis would be proven wrong as a gentle snore escaped them.
A crane of my head I'd creep, just slowly, unsure, until my nose brushed the top of their head. My hand was already placed by their neck. I'd reach out and stroke their chin gently with my thumb, taking in a breath, then letting go. I'd bring my arm back down as well.
,.'-~°`•_
"Tangled still, no?" They'd look up at me.
"It's not as bad as you think, it just needed a wash, that's all." I'd spray their hair down, washing away the rest of the conditioner.
"Well, that's a relief." They'd giggle to themselves lightly.
I'd hum, squeezing the water out of their hair, then wrapping it in a towel, helping them lift their head from the sink.
"Ah, that feels so much better now!" They'd gleam, running the towel through their hair. I began setting the dryer up.
"What do you wanna do today?"
"Uhm, I'm not sure." I'd hand over the dryer, pondering a bit while they ran it. There is lots we could do, lots of fun things, it's just picking a choice seemed like a hassle for whatever reason. I'd place my hand on the sink, holding myself up while I stroked my chin. Perhaps..
"Want to go to the lake?"
"Hum?" They'd turn the dryer off, giving me a wooly expression.
"The lake?"
"Oh! Hm.." They tilt their head to the side. "Mm, yeah actually, that would be nice. And we could follow up the marsh this time too perhaps?"
"Yeah, that sounds good." I nod.
"Great! Ah, go get ready, I'll catch up." They'd turn the dryer back on.
"Hey, let me help you, no need to rush!" I would try to help with the aiming of the dryer as they looked at me bewildered for a second, wondering if I had said something until they caught the motive.
,.'-~°`•_
"Hah! It's deeper than I thought it would be here! We're gonna have to go home and change after this." G shouted, kicking their way through the water. "Ya alright back there, J?"
"Hm? Yeah." I was busy wading my way closer to G. "The water's so tough to get through, my legs are getting tired." I look up and see that G has only gotten themselves farther. "Hey, don't go too far out! Be careful!"
"I know!" They smiled. "I will! It actually gets more shallow up ahead. I think we're near the end, finally!"
After a couple or more, tiring strides, I finally caught up with G in the more shallow area. "Hhh... I can barely feel my legs... Hmhh." I whined.
"Ah, look! The trail is right over there!" G pointed.
"Thank goodness." I sighed. "I don't want to have to wade back."
G just turned to me and laughed, walking over and putting my arm over their shoulder. "Here, lemme walk you over."
"Thanks." I let out a blown breath.
The walk back was tiring in all honesty. I leaned constantly on G as we made our way back to the car. I probably would look almost sick or wounded to the unknowing passerby if it weren't for our obviously drenched clothes.
The car seats were also wet now, but not completely drenched since we thought of bringing towels. We'll make sure to clean it up after we're back and clean. G had offered to drive, which I was very glad about. I still kinda felt bad on the drive back though since they drove us here. I'll make it up to them the next time we travel.
,.'-~°`•_
"J~"
"Hgh, mm..?"
"Ah, still sleeping I see, sorry to have woken you."
"Hm? No.. ah, it's fine, I-" I begin to push myself up off my back from the bed but G wraps their arm around my shoulders and brings me back down. "Ah- The car. It needs to be wiped down-"
"No need." They began to tug the covers from under me, readjusting them.
"But if we don't it's gonna stink or get sticky or som-" They'd shuffle their way next to me.
"I already did it." They toss the blanket over both of us.
"...oh. Wait, when.. how long was I out?" They'd tuck the blanket over my shoulder, making sure all but my head was covered.
"About an hour." They tuck themselves under the covers more and throw their arm around me, leaning their head on my shoulder.
"Mm.. you didn't have to do all of that on your own."
"I know." They take hold of my hand from under the covers and bring it close to their face, planting a gentle kiss. "The cleaning wasn't bad since we sat on our towels."
"... Thank you."
"Always."
I could feel my eyes growing heavy again. "Hey.. what time is it.?"
"Three. Why?" I'd realize they still have hold of my hand when they begin to strum their thumb along the top of my hand.
"Hmm.. wake.. wake me up at 5.. or around then. I want to go to town with you."
"Alright. I'll see if we're both up by then." They'd let out a yawn.
Id turn my head to the side, resting my head on top of theirs.
Utterly spoiled I am, aren't I?
,.'-~°`•_
I can't tell if the smell is of the mist around us, or a stain in my nose from the marsh. Both smell of wet salt.
We ended up waking up at 6 since we were so tired, meaning we got to town at about 6:30, so there was only about an hour and a half window for us to look around before most of the shops began closing.
G was leant up against me as we walked through the town square, looking at the shops to see which we should enter first.
There's this one area of town we like to stop at. It's where all the craft and collector stores set place. Normally, I'd go look around in the yarn and animal specimen collection shop while G explores the rock collector shop not far. After we got our items we would meet up and talk about what we got or saw while we walked back home.
Tonight, G followed me into the yarn shop, nothing unusual. Sometimes we would go with eachother into the same shops if we finished up our purchase before the other or if we didn't feel like or couldn't afford to buy anything from where we usually shop.
"What are you looking for?" G questioned, their head still laid on my side while I stood in an aisle.
"Mm.. I'm deciding on which yarn to get. I like the fluffiness and looseness of this twist, but I'm just deciding which color to use for the blanket I'm making." I'd scratch at my head a bit.
G stared at the spools of yarn for a moment before starting. "I'd say the deep blue one. I remember you talking about how you really liked that color once, and I think it would go with the color palette you have so far.
"Hm.., yeah." I'd reach out and take the spool. "Yeah, this looks nice. I... I appreciate your help." Giving thanks has always been a bit tricky for me. "Thank you" never seemed like enough.
G would take themselves off my side, giving me a balmy smile. "Always for you, I will."
They would turn their head around, looking to the door, then back at me. "Im going to head out to one of the other stores."
"Alright." I'd smile back. "I may still be here when you return, but if not, I'll probably be in the specimen shop, or taking a peek in the vinyl shop that just opened."
"Alright then, take your time." They would make their way to the door. I would listen to the little bell ring as the door closed behind them.
,.'-~°`•_
"Find anything?" I hear as G approaches from behind.
"Yeah actually. They have a whole vinyl for Sheena Ringo's Innocence Moratorium album." I'd take out the disk and show it to them. "When I'm able to get a record player, I'll come back and get it."
"Is it the only one?"
"Hm.." I look back at the shelves. "Yeah actually. I'll just get it now to make sure I don't miss my chance." I place the vinyl back in its cover and place it under my arm. "Did you want to look around?"
"Mm, next time. Its almost 8:30 and I think this place closes then. I looked at their door poster." They'd mention.
"Ah, alright then. I'll check this out real quick." I'd head over to the register, G following behind, then standing by my side while I brought the disk.
I look over at the bags in their hand. One seems to carry a large box.
"What's in there?" I point to it.
"I'll show when we leave." They nod over to the cashier handing back the vinyl.
"Ah, thanks." I nod at the cashier. Not sure if that was meant for the cashier or G.
"You two have a good night." The cashier would smile.
"To you as well!" I would return the favor with a wave while we headed out the door.
"Soo...?" I inquire.
"We'll, firstly," They reach into the bag, but not where the box was. "I got this nice pyrite rock. Its nothing much, but I just really like the look." They would twirl the rock around with their hand, letting it glimmer.
"Ooo, very nice." I'd gleam.
"And I got a small bit of this rock, and another dupe of this one since I just like it and think its pretty." They would take out a couple more rocks, talk about them a bit, such as where they come from and certain meaning some people place on them, along with the rocks value.
I enjoy listening to their little rambles. Rocks weren't something I was too into, but seeing them get giddy and talk about it makes me beam.
After they went through the rocks, they then talked about the snacks they brought for a bit.
"...and I got this little almond honey nut bar because I just like these." They would place it back after showing it to me real quick. I pretty much seen them eat that bar many times before so I didn't need that much of a good look.
G slides the bag back on their arm and continues walking. I look down at the box still visible in the bag, then back up to G, then back down, then up.
"Is everything alright?" They tilt their head a bit.
"Oh, just, uh, what's in the box?" I would point to it.
A sly smile would show in G's face. "Curious aren't we?"
"Hmm, you're up to something." I squint my eyes at them playfully.
A snicker slips out of them. "Well, you'll just have to wait until we get home."
"Hmm.." I lift an eyebrow. "Alright then."
,.'-~°`•_
I close the door behind G as they enter, sneaking glances at the box, but looking away whenever G turns to me so I wouldn't appear nosy, or at least, any more nosy than I was acting.
G set the bag on the table. "I can feel your eyes, you know."
"Nuh uh." I walk over next to them, setting my bags down in a chair, trying to sneak another glance at the box.
G let out a chortle when we lock eyes by mistake when I look up. I quickly look away, pretending to be inspecting my items.
"Alright, alright." They start.
I whip my head back towards them.
"So," G begins to take the box out of the bag. "I've been seeing you eye this thing for a while. You've said you always wanted to get it but couldn't afford it, so I decided to save up my money and get it for you."
I stop to think about what they're implying. "What I wanted..? ..oh. Wait!"
G takes the lid off the box and pulls out a skull. It wasn't just any skull though. It was the water deer skull I've been eyeing for the longest time - my favorite animal.
G places the skull in my hands. My hands fumble for a second after they let go, taking a second to get ahold of how this is real, but I quickly get a grip of it. I strum my fingers along the bridge of its muzzle, looking down at it in awe.
I stand there speechless, not sure if its because theres a thousand words clogged in the back of my throat attempting to all squeeze themselves out at once, or because i truly dont know what to say at all.
G just looks at me, smiling, drinking all of this in. They then walk over to me, gently stamping a kiss on my cheek. "For you."
I look at them. "...I ...Thank you.. Really! Thank you! I really appreciate this! I love this! I.." Again, I struggle giving thanks. Its something I've always struggled with, especially with gifts. Especially with huge important gifts like these. They feel bigger than a "thank you". They feel bigger than any sentence I could come up with. What do I do when I dont have anything to return? I'd return them the sun and moon if I could, and all the stars with their planets. A "thank you" is nothing to how much I appreciate this, nor will it suffice for a return. I feel as though I don't deserve this, but I know I shouldn't feel that way. I know that I should accept this because I don't want to upset them and something something if I dont accept gifts it may cause me to accept other forms of gifts outside of physical and I may end up pushing them away or something like that. I'm just overthinking it again.
G places their hand on my cheek. "J?"
I come back to reality, realizing how still I was standing, and that I was staring off into nothing.
I look back at them. I take a deep breath, holding it for a moment, and then let it out as I lean my head against theirs.
"Thank you."
"Always."
Thank you.
,.'-~°`•_
The breeze felt nice with this temperature. It was warm, not too warm though. It was like a nice blanket draped over you. The breeze acted like a fan that you would put across from your bed.
I lean further back on the balcony couch, roaming my hands along the skull, recalling the different parts of the skull in my head wherever they landed.
The sliding door hums. I turn my head over to see G peeping their head through the crack.
"I'm done talking with my mom." They say. They amble over to the couch and sit down next to me, resting their head on my shoulder. "Enjoying the skull?"
"Mhmm."
They let out a soft laugh. "You sound quite tired."
"Mm.. maybe." I rest my head against theirs.
"I think you should go to bed."
"Not yet."
"Yes. Your eyes are closed. You'll fall asleep out here."
"Hm, I'm just resting my eyes. I'll be ok."
"Well I'm tired." They push themselves off of me and stand. "I'm going to bed."
I let out a whine. "Ok, I will too."
"I thought you weren't sleepy." They retort.
"'m not!" I rub my eyes, finally opening them. "Just.. don't want you to go to bed alone." I gave a somnolent smile.
G just giggled, reaching out for my hand. "Alright then, if you say so." They plant a kiss on my head as I stand up. "Let's head to bed."
,.'-~°`•_
"You can't sleep with the skull."
"I know." I place the skull on the nightstand. "'just.. feeling it before bed."
I lift up the covers and slide in next to G. Their head is gently rested against the pillow as they stare at me. I look back at them as well for a moment, battling with my eyelids to keep them open. The eyelids win however.
I raise my hand to their cheek and tap my finger twice against it.
"What? I'm gonna be your skull now?" They tap my hand once.
"Mhm." I gently roam my hand across their face, mentally comparing sizes of parts and recalling their names.
"...and this is... this.. This! Is your nasal bone... and this.. is your maxillia and mandible... and.. hm.. and did you know that you can't move your maxilla?"
"Yes, you've told me before. Now go to bed, your slowing in your speech." They gently grab my hand, bringing it away from my face.
I groan in response, but without veto.
"Good night, J." They gently pull me into their chest, resting their head against mine.
I curl into their embrace, letting them take me in. "..G'night."